Uf Qb Rating? Surprising Spurrier Expects Improvement From Matthews

March 15, 1992|By ROBBIE ANDREU, Staff Writer

GAINESVILLE -- A quiet, relaxing spring would seem in order for Florida quarterback Shane Matthews.

The two-time Southeastern Conference Player of the Year is coming off a 3,000-yard passing season and has established himself as one of the most productive quarterbacks in school and conference history. And with UF facing rebuilding projects on the offensive and defensive lines this spring, quarterback does not appear to be an area of concern.

Yet it is.

UF coach Steve Spurrier is not satisfied with his senior quarterback. Despite all the yards, all the touchdown passes, all the awards accumulated by Matthews the past two seasons, Spurrier said Matthews has regressed since the end of his sophomore year.

``We`re going to work the hell out of Shane this spring,`` said Spurrier, whose team opens spring drills Tuesday night. ``He reverted back to some old bad habits last season and we`ve got to take care of them now. We need to get him back to being the quarterback he was late in the 1990 season.``

Spurrier is concerned about the way Matthews closed the 1991 season. In the final three games, Matthews played poorly by Spurrier`s high standards. He made numerous poor decisions and started fleeing the pocket too quickly, a habit he had previously overcome in his sophomore season.

In the SEC-clinching victory over Kentucky, Matthews threw three critical interceptions in the second half that kept the underdog Wildcats in the game.

He threw three more interceptions against Florida State, including one in the end zone in the fourth quarter that kept UF from putting the game away.

And in the Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame, he threw three interceptions, consistently tried to force the ball deep when receivers were open underneath and fled the pocket too often.

``The one thing he really needs to work on the most is staying in the pocket,`` Spurrier said. ``He runs out of there too quick, and our offensive system is not based on that. I`m going to work hard with Shane to get him ready the same way I did the spring before the 1990 season.``

Also getting a great deal of attention from Spurrier this spring will be sophomore Terry Dean. Although senior Brian Fox, Matthews` backup last season, returns, Dean is considered the quarterback of the future and probably will get more work than Fox.

``Brian is a solid player, but he`s a senior. Realistically, we`ve got to start considering the future,`` Spurrier said. ``Terry needs a lot of work this spring. He`s very talented and we`ve got to start bringing him along.``

Although it is unlikely Matthews could lose the starting job this spring, Spurrier has told the quarterbacks the competition is wide open.

``Coach Spurrier is a perfectionist, and he expects his quarterback to be one, too,`` Matthews said. ``You`ve got to keep producing or he`ll find somone who can.

``I`m looking forward to working with him this spring and getting better. There are a lot of things I need to improve on. Coach Spurrier and I have talked, and I know what I need to do.``

Notes: Antwan Chiles, a redshirt sophomore from Cardinal Gibbons, will remain at quarterback at least through spring drills, Spurrier said. Chiles was one of the nation`s highest-rated outside linebacking prospects coming out of high school. UF`s defensive coaches are hoping he will be on their side of the ball by next fall.